Dashain is one of the most important festivals in Nepal.
It is also celebrated by many Hindus across the globe.
It lasts for fifteen days, and some days of the festival are observed as a public holiday in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India.
The Dashain festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
For the followers of Shaktism (one of the denominations of Hinduism) it represents the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
The rest of the Hindus associate the festival with the victory of Rama over Ravana.
For Nepalese Buddhists, Dashain symbolizes adoption of Buddhism by the Indian emperor Ashoka.
Dashain starts on the bright lunar fortnight of the month of Ashvin and lasts for fifteen days, ending on the full moon.
It usually falls on September and/or October in the Gregorian calendar.
The 1st, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th days of the festival are considered the most important.
Dashain is marked with religious ceremonies, prayers, and animal sacrifices.
